Teaching parents at WIC clinics to examine their high caries-risk babies.

Seventy-seven parents/caretakers of children, averaging 24.4 months from four WIC clinics in King County, Washington, observed a five-minute video-tape. These parents/caretakers were then asked to examine their own children, using a mirror and a brochure with illustrations of the progression of disease. Following completion of a questionnaire, a trained dental student or dentist examined the child and completed the same questionnaire. Over 80 percent of parents/caretakers responded the same as dentists. Dentists identified disease in 35.1 percent of the sample. Kappa = 59, Z = 4.4, and p < .001. Results support the training of nondental personnel to screen early childhood caries.